Astochia africana (Ricardo, 1919) Figs 1, 25

Neoitamus africanus Ricardo, 1919: 73; Oldroyd 1939: 38; Hull 1962: 557; Oldroyd 1970: 313.

Astochia africana: Oldroyd 1980: 336; Londt 1982: 243 (figs 2 (wing), 3 (♀ ovipositor), 5-7 (♂ terminalia)).

Diagnosis.

Mystax black. Katatergal setae black. Anatergite with black and white setae. Scutellum disc with black setae. Mesonotal macrosetae black. Wings: Discal cell microtrichose. Legs: Femora entirely black. Metathoracic femora with ventral macrosetae. ♀ with abdominal segments 1-5 pruinose. ♂ terminalia as in Fig. 1. The species was fully redescribed by Londt (1982).

Material.

Previously recorded and personally studied material: Kenya: 3♀, lectotype & paralectotypes, Edge of forest on S & E slopes of Mt Kenya [c. 00°10'S, 37°26'E 3000m], 6000-7000 ft [c. 2000 m], 3-12.ii.1911, S.A. Neave (BMNH); 1♂ 2♀, 5-7 miles into Kenia Forest, near Luche [?] R. 9-10.ii.1911, T.J. Anderson (BMNH). Malawi: 2♂ 3♀ [Londt (1982) recorded 2♂ 4♀] 'Malawi Ntchisi Forest / Reserve 1334Ac 1500m [13°22'43"S, 34°01'17"E c. 1420m] / Londt & Stuckenberg / 3-4.xii.1980 Montane / forest & woodland’, 1♂ ‘NMSA-DIP-03374’; 1♂ ‘NMSA-DIP-106705’; 3♀ ‘NMSA-DIP-106706-8’ (NMSA). Uganda: 1♂ 1♀, Ruwenzori range [c. 00°23'N, 29°52'E], Namwamba Valley, 6500 ft [c. 1980 m], xii.1934-i.1935, B.M. E. Afr. Exp., F.W. Edwards (BMNH).

Material not studied but recorded by Oldroyd (1970): DRC: 1♀, Stanleyville [= Kisangani], Mahagi-Niarembe [c. 02°16'N, 31°03'E 1550m], x.1935, Ch. Scops (MRAC); 1♀, Muturak [?], 3.ii.1933, Van Sacaghem (MRAC). Rwanda: 1♀, Kivu, Kisenyi [= Gisenyi c. 01°41'S, 29°16'E 1550m], ii.1928, Ch. Seydel (MRAC); 1♂, Kisenyi, 1800 m, 18.xi.1961, A. Bertrand (MRAC).

Newly recorded material: Kenya: 1♀ 'Kenya: Nairobi #58 / Karura State Forest / 01°15'S, 36°53'E 1700m / 19.xi.1992 5 km NE city / J Londt & A Whittington / indigenous forest/ edges’, ‘NMSA-DIP-03364’ (NMSA). Malawi: 1♀ 'C Malawi Ntchisi District / Ntchisi Forest Reserve [c. 13°22'43"S, 34°01'17"E 1420m] / 5000ft [c. 1525 m] 24 Nov - 2 Dec 2000 / Collector R J Murphy / Det Ref No AS21' ‘NMSA-DIP-106709’ (NMSA). Tanzania: 1♀ 'van Someren / Mt Moroto [c. 2°32'S, 34°46'E] / Kar moya [?] 4 50', 'Com Inst Ent. / Coll. No. 11740' (BMNH).

Distribution, phenology and biology.

Recorded mainly from East Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) and eastern DRC (Fig. 25). Collected from October through to February (Table 1), no records for January. Found mainly associated with indigenous forest environments.